On Tuesday, U.S. Soccer announced the potential pairings and match locations for all fifth round scenarios in the 2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The fourth round winner between Sporting Kansas City and Minnesota United (NASL) on June 18 will advance to host the winner between the Portland Timbers (MLS) and Orlando City U23's (PDL) in the tournament's round of 16.
Sporting Kansas City will host Minnesota United FC at 7:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday, June 18 at Sporting Park as the two-time U.S. Open Cup champions enter the competition in the fourth round. Tickets, starting as low as $14, are available for the match online at Ticketmaster.com or by calling 888-4KC-GOAL.
Minnesota United FC advanced with a 1-0 victory over the Des Moines Menace (PDL). League champions in 2011, Minnesota United FC currently sit atop the NASL (Division II) standings with a 6-1-1 record ahead of their Spring Season finale at the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday. A win or draw will earn the Spring Title and the first spot in 'The Championship' postseason tournament.
The fourth round winner at Sporting Park will await a match-up with either the Portland Timbers, who Sporting Kansas City faces in MLS action on June 27, or the Orlando City U23's, one of two remaining amateur teams in the tournament. Portland Timbers FC and Orlando City U23's will meet at 5:30 p.m. CT on June 17 at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon.
Fifth-round winners will then advance to the tournament’s quarterfinals, set for July 8-9.
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, recognized as U.S. Soccer's National Club Championship, is an annual competition open to all amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. The oldest annual team tournament in American sports history, the U.S. Open Cup has origins in 1914 and is named after Lamar Hunt, the original founder of Sporting Kansas City.
This year's competition began on May 7 with the largest field in the modern era (1995-present) featuring 80 teams. The single-elimination tournament will continue through the championship match on Sept. 30 or Oct. 1 with the winner receiving $250,000 in prize money, a berth in the 2015-16 CONCACAF Champions League and their name on the Dewar Challenge Trophy.
Sporting Kansas City are two-time champions in the competition, winning the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2004 and 2012.
